Study: Running shoes leave large carbon footprint

Runners tread more heavily on the earth than they may have ever imagined, especially it seems if they are wearing a pair of Chinese-made men’s size nine Asics gel Kayanos, according to a team of MIT scientists.

I would like to add a further conclusion, that while it’s not part of the direct manufacturing process costs, it remains a cost non-the-less. And that is the hidden cost passed onto the consumer by virtue of the inbuilt planned obsolescence that is part of every pair of running shoes. MIT’s manufacturing analysis rightly didn’t include the replacement cost because that is a consumer cost not a manufacturing cost. But it is a cost that has an environmental impact as well. Running shoes need to be replaced every 400 miles which means that serious distance runners will typically go through 8 or more pair of running shoes per year. Building stuff that lasts longer is better for both the environment and the consumer.
I believe in sustainability through using recycled materials to create products that last. Cheers. mexsandalguy

@gamecock
I said very clearly ‘serious distance runners’ which obviously doesn’t include you if your running shoes last you 10 years.
It is standard practice to replace traditional running shoes like the Asic Gel Kayanos (which I personally ran in for 10 years) every 400 miles.
I run anywhere from 80-100 miles a week so if I was still running in those shoes and following SOP then I would burn through upwards of a pair per month or 12 pairs per year.

Ouch but you’re making my little head hurt…
The running shoes are deliberately made with inferior materials that wear out – aka ‘planned obsolescence’.
Please – if you’ve got nothing more than other stupid replies please just quit.